Cotton farming may 2016

Cotton Farming ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC

PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MAY 2016

www.cottonfarming.com

L&G FARMS HANDS-ON OPERATORS CONTINUE THE FAMILY LEGACY

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Vol. 60 No. 5

Cotton Farming PROFITABLE PRODUCTION STRATEGIES

MAY 2016

www.cottonfarming.com

F E AT U R E S

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COTTON REINVENTED Advanced technologies for cotton fabrics help cultivate new markets for this renewable crop.

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ALDICARB RETURNS

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TCGA WRAPUP

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GINNING MARKETPLACE

Aldicarb is making a comeback to control insect pests and nematodes in cotton.

With promising soil moisture, Texas producers and ginners see enormous potential for the 2016 cotton crop.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY

Dusty Findley, Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association, discusses the importance of having plans in place for unexpected situations that pop up when you least expect them.

L&G Farms

Lance Lawson, left, and Brad Gilmer farm 5,000 acres of cotton, soybeans and corn along with a few acres of rice.

They are continuing the family legacy left by their fathers, Lonnie Lawson and Harland Gilmer, who also had a farming partnership in Southeast Missouri for many years.

These hands-on farmers pay close attention to detail to keep the operation running smoothly and efficiently.

WEB EXCLUSIVE Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan recently testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight. He explained how Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers are affected by the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations, especially its Waters of the United States rule. Go to www.cottonfarming.com for this Web Exclusive report.

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

4 Editor’s Note 6 Cotton’s Agenda 11 Industry News

16 Specialists Speaking 22 My Turn

ON THE COVER: Brad Gilmer, left, and Lance Lawson farm 2,400 acres of cotton near Matthews, Mo. Cover photo by Carroll Smith.

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MAY 2016

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2016

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Editor’s Note

Cotton Farming

Carroll Smith

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EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION Editor Carroll Smith csmith@onegrower.com Managing Editor Vicky Boyd vlboyd@onegrower.com

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Cautious ‘Gamblers’ Go All In

n poker, when the chips are low and the stakes are high, a player may decide to take a risk and go “all in” to stay in the game. Farming has sometimes been compared to gambling. You put up your money and resources on the front end not knowing what cards you will be dealt. Will Mother Nature cooperate with timely rains and beautiful fall weather for harvest season? Will the price you get for your crop be enough to cover expenses and you hope put a little profit in your pocket?

You don’t know. Weather and prices are out of your control.

And those who feed and clothe the world face other obstacles as well.

The last Farm Bill cut direct payments to farmers and substituted other programs that are often difficult to maneuver and provide inadequate assistance to help make ends meet.

When the industry asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to designate cotton as the “other oilseed” within the Farm Bill’s Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack declined. He said the USDA lacked the legal authority to do so. In response, the National Cotton Council said it would “continue working with Congress and USDA to find ways to help address the significant challenges facing the U.S. cotton industry.” The organization’s ongoing efforts, along with help from other industry groups, keep hope alive.

I loosely refer to farmers as “gamblers” with no disrespect intended.

I only want to emphasize the tremendous risks they take to do their jobs and make a living for their families. They are the most honest, hard-working people I know who uphold the highest level of integrity.

Although the risks they take are real, they are not reckless. Most farmers are cautious by nature and weigh their decisions carefully. They study variety data from multiple sources before purchasing seed and watch their crops closely throughout the season, often with help from highly trained consultants.

Meanwhile, spring is here, and cotton farmers are running hard. They have sized up their options and pushed all their chips to the middle of the table. For them, “chips” represent more than financial commitment. They also are investing their heart, soul and determination to succeed. In more ways than one, they are all in for the 2016 season.

Carroll If you have comments, please send them to: Cotton Farming Magazine, 7201 Eastern Ave., Germantown, TN, 38138. Contact Carroll Smith via email at csmith@onegrower.com.

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2016

Southeast Editor Amanda Huber ahuber@onegrower.com Art Director Ashley Kumpe ADMINISTRATION Publisher/Vice President Lia Guthrie (901) 497-3689 lguthrie@onegrower.com Associate Publisher Carroll Smith (901) 326-4443 Sales Manager Scott Emerson (386) 462-1532 semerson@onegrower.com Production Manager Kathy Killingsworth (901) 767-4020 kkillingsworth@onegrower.com Circulation Manager Charlie Beek (615) 377-3322 For circulation changes or change of address, call (847) 559-7578 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Burns – North Carolina David Lynch – South Carolina Bob McLendon – Georgia Larkin Martin – Alabama Mike Sturdivant Jr. – Mississippi Charles Parker – Missouri Jimmy Hargett – Tennessee Allen Helms – Arkansas Jay Hardwick – Louisiana Ronnie Hopper – Texas Ron Rayner – Arizona John Pucheu – California

ONE GROWER PUBLISHING, LLC Mike Lamensdorf President/Treasurer Lia Guthrie Publisher/Vice President ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COOPERATION: Cooperating with COTTON FARMING are various cotton producer organizations across the Cotton Belt. Many representatives of producer organizations serve on COTTON FARMING’s editorial advisory board. Opinions expressed and conclusions reached by contributors are not necessarily those of the cooperating organizations or the editors.

All statements, including product claims, are those of the person or organization making the statement or claim. The publisher does not adopt any such statement or claims as its own and any such statement or claim does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher.

Copyright 2016 © ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS – One Grower Publishing, LLC also publishes RICE FARMING, THE PEANUT GROWER, SOYBEAN SOUTH and CORN SOUTH.

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COTTONFARMING.COM

RESEARCH & PROMOTION

Technology Reinvents Cotton

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s consumers continue to incorporate more fitness into their daily routines, they want to be able to wear the same clothing not just during sports but also during everyday activities, such as grocery shopping or to the office. Cotton is proving to be a competitive – and dry – player in this category, sometimes referred to as “athleisure.”

Cotton’s natural properties can be enhanced through application innovations that reinvent it as a true performance fiber. Advanced technologies for cotton fabrics that wick moisture and repel water are just a few examples of how The Cotton Research & Promotion Program is discovering ways for cotton to find new markets for generations to come.

Wicking, Fast-Drying Performance Developed by Cotton Incorporated, through funding from The Cotton Research & Promotion Program, TransDRY® technology for cotton is a high-performance moisture-management application that allows fabrics to “wick” and spread perspiration as well as, most of the high-tech synthetic fabrics that dominated this expanding market. The term “wick,” for lifting perspiration away from skin, is borrowed from a much older “high-performance” cotton application: candle wicks, which similarly lift wax into the flame.

Active people can put aside polyester and enjoy the comfort, softness and natural odor-fighting properties of their favorite cotton apparel with wicking and fast-drying performance.

The TransDRY® technology begins by treating cotton yarn with a special process to make it water-repellent, and blending the right amount of treated yarn with naturally absorbent cotton yarns. Fabric can be constructed to move moisture horizontally, vertically or from the skin side to the outside of a fabric.

Just a few of the iconic brands that have integrated this technology include Under Armour ® , Eddie Bauer ®, Gander Mountain ®, Remington®1816™, 5.11 Tactical® and Element® (skateboarding).

Twitter: @CottonFarming

Consumers can now enjoy the fast-drying and moisture-wicking performance of synthetic fabrics but in the comfort and softness of cotton.

High-Performance Finishes In addition to TransDRY ® , The Cotton Research & Promotion Program has successfully introduced high-performance finishes that move or repel moisture, including Wicking Windows™, Storm Cotton™ and Storm Denim™.

For decades, popular weather-resistant clothing was always made of nylon and polyester, and cotton was the comfort layer that needed protection from the elements. Today, the finishing technology behind Storm Cotton™ and Storm Denim™ gives cotton apparel excellent repellency throughout the life of the garment.

Although it repels liquid, the finish still allows moisture vapor to pass through the fabric where it can dissipate into the environment. Since Storm Cotton™ technology minimizes the amount of water the fabric will hold, garments dry much faster than untreated cotton, decreasing the amount of time and energy required for laundering.

Developed and marketed by The Cotton Research & Promotion Program, Storm Cotton™ and Storm Denim™ technology adds value and performance to many iconic apparel brands, including Cabela’s (Guidewear® and Roughneck™ lines),

L.L. Bean (Katahdin Iron Works ®), The North Face® (sweatshirts), Under Armour (Charged Cotton ® Storm), 5.11 Tactical ® (water-repellent job shirt), as well as popular regional brands in Canada, East Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Cotton Use Requirement G l o b a l l y, 4 4 2 c o m p a n i e s a r e l i c ens ed t o us e one of Cotton Incorporated’s key fiber technologies. As with the TransDRY® moisture-wicking technology, it is not a requirement for apparel partners to label their products with the name Storm Cotton™ or Storm Denim™.

They can call their products whatever they choose, but it is a requirement that if they use the technology they must use it on cotton!

While downturns in cotton prices make headlines, new markets and innovations make history. The program continues to cultivate new markets and applications for this renewable crop — on behalf of today’s American cotton producer and for the generations that follow.

The Cotton Board, which administers Cotton Incorporated’s Research and Promotion Program, contributed this article.

COTTON FARMING MAY 2016

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Cotton’s Agenda Gary Adams

A Sense Of Urgency With U.S. cotton facing ever-stronger competition from other countries’ growths and from man-made fibers, the National Cotton Council believes it is imperative that our industry increase efforts to prevent lint contamination.

What steps have been initiated?

n Earlier this year, the NCC re-established its Quality Task Force to monitor ongoing quality issues and stay abreast of lint contamination incident reports. Increased complaints from textile mills are threatening U.S. cotton’s reputation. The NCC took another step when it recently amplified its existing contamination prevention policy — directing the task force to coordinate and oversee the creation and implementation of a comprehensive and effective contamination prevention program for cotton producers and gins. This effort is in collaboration with the NCC’s American Cotton Producers, the National Cotton Ginners Association (NCGA), and other producer and ginner interest organizations.

Decals will be distributed to producers for placing on pickers and strippers as a reminder for drivers to watch for contaminants.

Are plastics still the major concern?

n Plastics continue as the major contamination source whether from shopping bags and black plastic mulch to irrigation poly pipe and module wraps. We are urging producers to be diligent in removing from their fields all forms of plastic throughout the season and especially prior to harvest. Producers should try to eliminate other potential contaminants, such as seed coat fragments, excess bark and oil/grease.

More and more textile mills are using expen-

sive detection equipment ­— and most of the contaminants detected at the bale opening stage can be traced back to specific production areas and even specific farms and gins.

However, many contaminants go undetected. That includes stickiness. Producers are reminded to employ cultural practices for good control of aphids, whiteflies and some plant bug species as these insect pests can leave secretions on the plant’s leaves that gum up textile processing equipment.

Any specific outreach actions being taken?

n The NCC is updating existing educational materials. Decals will be distributed to producers to be placed on their pickers or strippers as a reminder for drivers to look for contaminants during harvest. In addition, presentations are being made at this year’s three ginner schools where gin managers and their workers are being instructed on steps to take for preventing contamination. Among those are making sure module feeders are kept clean and bales are properly wrapped, including not over welding the plastic strapping now being used on 75 percent of U.S. bales. With round modules wrapped in plastic emerging as a significant harvest method, both producers and ginners are being asked to watch or review the NCGA-produced round module handling video. It and other contamination prevention resources are on the NCC website’s Quality Preservation page at www. cotton.org/tech/quality/index.cfm.

All industry members are encouraged to share what’s working and not working regarding contamination prevention and to relay any information about new contamination sources. They can contact their NCC member services representative or send an email to keepitclean@cotton.org.

Gary Adams is president/CEO of the National Cotton Council of America. He and other NCC leaders contribute columns on this Cotton Farming magazine page.

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COVER STORY

Lance Lawson, left, and Brad Gilmer farm 5,000 acres, including 2,400 acres of cotton, in Southeast Missouri.

L&G Farms Hands-on operators continue the family legacy.

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

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inger and Sharion Croom spent a portion of their childhood growing up in a small white farmhouse that stands about 100 feet from the shop at L&G Farms in Southeast Missouri.

After the sisters married, their husbands – Harland Gilmer and Lonnie Lawson – formed a partnership when the girls’ uncle retired in 1967.

The men farmed the family land as well as some other property until 2005 when Harland passed away. After that, Lonnie kept the operation going by himself for three more years before retiring in the fall of 2008. In 2009, two cousins, Brad Gilmer and Lance Lawson, formed their own partnership – L&G Farms – and continue to farm together today.

“The family brought us together,” Gilmer says. “We both wanted to farm. As a young boy, I used to wake Dad up on the weekend, or whenever I wasn’t in school, saying, ‘Dad, it’s time to go to the farm.’ Lance and I spent as much time

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as we could there learning how to drive tractors and run the disk. Our dads put us on machinery that was easy to handle and made us drive in a really slow gear. We weren’t getting much done, but we were having fun. My first real job was driving the pickup that carried 30-foot sticks of irrigation pipe. We both watched how everything was done and asked questions about why it was done to the point of being a menace at times. But that’s how we learned.”

Today, Gilmer and Lawson farm about 5,000 acres of cotton, soybeans and corn along with a few acres of rice. This year, they intend to plant 2,400 acres of cotton to DP 1518 B2XF, DP 1522 B2XF, NG 3406 B2XF and DG 3385 B2XF. Extensive Weed Control Program The weed spectrum at L&G Farms includes pigweed, marestail, morningglory and some occasional grass. “The herbicide-resistant weeds – pigweed and marestail – pose the biggest problem for us,” Lawson says.

COTTONFARMING.COM

electrics where the pump is at the bottom of the well.

“If we have a 21-day window before planting, we burn These are the easiest to operate, but there are only cerdown with Roundup and Clarity to get a clean start. If we tain places where we have access to electricity.” miss the window, we burn down with Gramoxone. Our preWhen setting up the flood irrigation system, Gilmer and emerge herbicide program typically includes a pint and a Lawson take into consideration field size, pumping capachalf of Warrant and, if necessary, Roundup for grass. ity of the wells and hard spots in the middles where the “We put out Nucleus O-Phos 8-24-0 – a pop-up fertilizer tractors run. For example, some wells pump 3,000 gallons – in-furrow along with some calcium to help with germiper minute compared to others that pump 1,000 gallons nation and other issues. We’ve had good luck getting the per minute. Hole sizes in the poly pipe vary to help ensure cotton to grow off with this combination. Five ounces of uniformity and avoid wasting fuel and water. Smaller Quadris fungicide and a generic product for cutworms also holes typically are punched closer to the well and larger go in the furrow. Doing all of this at planting saves a lot holes further out, depending on soil type and run length. of trips across the field. If any pigweed emerges after the They also have placed hard pipe underground to push cotton is planted, a shot of Liberty the latter part of May water to other fields. This allows them to irrigate more will take care of it.” acres with fewer wells, which is more economical.

When the cotton starts getting “woody” but is still small, the Missouri farmers go underneath the crop with Harvest, Yields And Marketing Liberty or Sequence. As the cotton gets bigger, they apply Gilmer and Lawson have increased efficiency at harvest Valor. If grass is present, Roundup goes in the mix. by running a John Deere round-bale picker that they pur“We prefer to use a hooded sprayer with the pressure chased in 2015. set to 20 pounds or less,” Lawson “It makes harvest so much eassays. “Although the varieties ier,” Gilmer says. “I am typicalare herbicide-resistant, we don’t ly the cotton picker driver, and want to expose the plant when it I picked 2,000 acres of cotton is trying to produce fruit.” with it last year. The only time I Gilmer agrees. “I would rather had to stop was to change a roll, have a few weeds than a perfectly grease the headers, add fuel and clean field with less yield.” water, and maybe stretch my legs Lawson and Gilmer also are a bit. In my opinion, it’s the bigexperimenting with a cereal rye gest advance in the cotton world cover crop to reduce weed comsince the module builder. If we petition, keep the ground warm, get some wind and dry conditions and help with erosion and soil this fall, Lance and I plan to take structure. After planting, it acts shifts and run it all night long.” as a windbreak for seedling cotThe average yield on 2,000 ton before dying off from a preacres of cotton at L&G Farms emerge Roundup application. was 1,309 pounds per acre in Even with this well-orchestrat2015 with a couple fields avered, comprehensive approach to aging 1,500 pounds. In 2014, the weed control, Lawson and Gilmer operation averaged 1,397 pounds have to hire choppers and spot on fewer acres in a little better spray if weeds come on strong L&G Farms averaged 1,309 pounds of cotton cotton year. later in the season.

“There is nothing I would rath“It’s still a fight,” Gilmer says. per acre on 2,000 acres in 2015. er do than pick a solid white cot“If one pigweed survives and you ton field,” Gilmer says. “In 2014, we made 1,600 pounds don’t chop it out, there will be a circle of weeds there next per acre on an individual field. Our goal is to make that year where all the seed fell out. If you happen to hook it kind of yield on more fields. That would be nice.” with the cultivator, you’ll drag seed all over the field and Gilmer and Lawson gin their cotton at two locations: have a stretch of weeds. We’re looking forward to getting Bootheel Cotton Co., a cooperative gin in Matthews, Mo.; dicamba approved for over-the-top use so we can control and DG&G Cotton Gin in Parma. Their marketing stratthese weeds a little cheaper and easier.” egy includes booking some of their crop in advance and selling the rest through cotton marketing pools.

Irrigation Practices As much as they love the crop, Gilmer and Lawson All of the cotton acreage on L&G Farms is flood irrigatagree that growing cotton in today’s environment has its ed, with the exception of a couple fields that haven’t been challenges. “It’s like a child,” Gilmer says. “Once you have put to grade. The initial irrigation setup is a big undertakone, you have to take care of it until it is grown. It’s labor ing and requires a group effort between the farmers and intensive.” their crew. Once this is accomplished, Gilmer and Lawson But on the reward side, Lawson points out, “It’s the take a hands-on approach by checking all the units and biggest grossing crop we have. If we are able to produce controlling the scheduling themselves during the season. a 1,500-pound crop, we can pay some bills and catch our “We have 72 power units to keep up with,” Gilmer says. breath.”

“Some of the motors are attached to centrifugal pumps, Gilmer adds, “And in the end, you can be proud of yourand some have turbines where the pump is actually self. We like cotton and hope to keep growing it for a long placed down in the well and has a gear head on top that time.” we pull with a drive shaft. We have a few submersible Twitter: @CottonFarming

COTTON FARMING MAY 2016

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SPECIAL REPORT

Aldicarb Returns To Cotton Fields

BY A. DENISE ATTAWAY CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Aldicarb Alternatives Since Temik essentially was taken off the market when the registrant stopped production, cotton growers have been using neonicotinoid seed treatments. Among the active ingredients are imidacloprid (Gaucho ST, also a part of Aeris ST) and thiamethoxam (Cruiser ST, also a part of Avicta Duo ST) for at-plant control of thrips in cotton. This approach has been an improvement in terms of convenience, but it has not been as effective as Temik in controlling thrips.

“Generally, in comparisons of efficacy with Temik and the seed treatments, Temik usually yielded more cotton,” Greene says. “So, some yield decrease likely has occurred overall. Much of this loss likely is due to

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CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

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ix years after production was discontinued in the United States, aldicarb is making a comeback. Production of the farm chemical aldicarb, formerly sold under the trade name Temik, was discontinued in 2010 and has gradually disappeared from the market. A new product, AgLogic 15G Aldicarb Pesticide, is making an initial run in Georgia this season. It is expected to be released in other cotton-producing states in 2017 and 2018.

Jeremy Greene, entomologist at the Clemson Edisto Research and Educational Center, says the U.S. cotton crop has suffered with declining availability of aldicarb. Temik was a valued part of many growers’ integrated pest management programs for control of early season insect pests and nematodes. There is little to no Temik 15G available for purchase today.

“Control of thrips and nematodes has been challenging since the availability of aldicarb, or Temik 15G, has diminished,” Greene says. “Temik 15G was on the market for about 40 years and was used on a significant number of cotton acres for control of thrips and nematodes. Aldicarb was very effective.”

The pesticide, aldicarb, is making a comeback to control insect pests and nematodes in cotton. Registered under the trade name AgLogic 15G, this new product is expected to equal Temik. failure to suppress nematodes. But Temik generally was regarded as the standard for controlling thrips.”

John Mueller, plant pathologist and director of the Edisto REC, agrees and says cotton yields appear to have decreased as nematode populations appear to have increased.

“Growers have been using seed treatments such as the various formulations of Aeris, Avicta and Poncho/ Votivo for nematode control,” Mueller says. “Beginning last year, they also began using Velum Total. A small percentage of growers have continued to use Telone II, applying it using a prescription rate application map.”

Nematode Pressure Southern root-knot nematode was one pest cotton producers worried about when aldicarb was no longer available. In recent years, major seed companies have released cotton varieties resistant to Southern root-knot nematode that can compete yieldwise with the best susceptible lines in nematode-free areas of fields.

“Growers can utilize these cultivars to essentially lower pressure from Southern root-knot nematode and use seed treatments and lower rates of soil-applied nematicides to provide control of other nematodes present,” Mueller says. “In fields with high lev-

els of Columbia lance, sting or reniform nematodes, growers will need to use higher rates of soil-applied nematicides to limit yield losses. This is where AgLogic 15G will get a lot of consideration for use.”

Certification And Stewardship AgLogic 15G is a restricted-use product of Ag Logic Chemical LLC in Chapel Hill, N.C. Its performance is expected to be similar to Temik. It is registered for control of nematodes, thrips, aphids, mites, whiteflies and plant bugs, as well as other chewing and sucking pests, says Antoine Puech, president and CEO of Ag Logic Chemical. It is labeled for use on cotton, peanuts, soybeans, sugarbeets, dry beans and sweet potatoes.

Stephen Cole, director of regulatory and public services at Clemson, says growers who use AgLogic 15G must be licensed private applicators.

Without this certification, growers cannot legally purchase the product from agricultural chemical dealers.

In addition to this certification, anyone who intends to purchase, use or sell AgLogic 15G must complete an online stewardship certification course administered by Ag Logic Chemical LLC. For more about AgLogic 15G product registration, visit http://bit.ly/1V9uFcq. COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Varieties Evaluated For RootKnot Nematode Resistance The Deltapine New Product Evaluator Program is kicking off its ninth season this spring with nearly 200 growers evaluating seven new Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton variety candidates for the Class of 17. Three of those varieties also offer resistance to root-knot nematodes (RKN).

All seven lines being evaluated by NPE growers are Bollgard II XtendFlex varieties. Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton, part of the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System, is tolerant to three different modes of action — dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate.

In 2016, growers are able to use Roundup brand agricultural herbicides containing glyphosate only and Liberty herbicide (glufosinate), while over-the-top use of dicamba is still pending regulatory approval from the Environmental Protection Agency.

However, even without dicamba, producers will continue to maximize their yield opportunity with other herbicides through the weed management recommendations and incentives provided by Roundup Ready PLUS Crop Management Solutions, according to Deltapine.

Continuing its efforts to bring solutions for healthy cotton to the market, Deltapine is evaluating three Bollgard II XtendFlex NR (nematode resistance) lines — lines that are resistant to RKN. Deltapine currently has two commercial NR varieties in that offer outstanding yield potential in both RKN and non-RKN environments. The three new lines being evaluated offer the same protection against RKN but with higher yield potential and the latest weed-control technology.

Metal Theft Task Force Established To Deter Robbers Delta Council recently reported that Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has formed a task force to look at existing policies and laws in Mississippi and adjoining states in search of the best method for responding to theft and transport of copper wire to points of sale.

“Attorney General Jim Hood and Secretary Hosemann have taken an aggressive posture in trying to help

agriculture confront this problem and create a solution that deters these thefts,” says Gibb Steele, the Delta Council farm leader who has been appointed to the task force to represent the organization.

Delta Council has urged state officials to work with adjoining states to adopt laws and enforcement procedures to make it more difficult for the sale of stolen copper and other metal. Also, with the help of Attorney General Jim Hood, federal officials from the U.S. Justice Department

have been enlisted to assist and give guidance to the multi-state efforts.

U.S. Cotton Advocate Retires From Ralph Lauren Corp.

Former Cotton Board importer member, Maureen Gray, has retired from the Ralph Lauren Corp. Gray, a strong advocate for the U.S. cotton industry, started with Ralph Lauren in 1997. At the time of her retirement, Continued on page 13

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TCGA Annual Meeting & Trade Show

Barry Street is joined by his family and gin employees at the TCGA awards dinner where he was named the Ginner of the Year.

Texas Farmers And Ginners Have High Hopes For the 2016 Season

BY CARROLL SMITH EDITOR

A

fter a prolonged drought, rain finally fell in Texas.

The much-needed water boosted the spirits of farmers and ginners, which was evident at the 109th Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show. Attendees were upbeat and ready to learn more about the products and services being offered by numerous companies gathered at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

Tony Williams, TCGA executive vice president, says he received positive feedback during the show regarding the upcoming season. “Promising soil moisture appears to have generated a good attitude among the attendees who see enormous potential for the 2016 crop,” he says. “After going through a tough drought that began in 2011, conditions in 2016 are much improved. The South Texas crop is planted, and West Texas received timely rains to start the season. We have heard predictions that 5.5 million acres of cotton will be planted in the state this year. The general consensus is, ‘If we can’t get price, we can get yields.’”

From the ginners’ perspective, Williams says farmers need to “bring bales to the gin.” Although the economic environment is tough, there is hope and good potential for that to happen in 2016.

Special Recognition After a successful year at the helm, outgoing TCGA President Ken Ross turned the leadership over to incoming President Mike Polk. Scott Hilburn moved up from secretary to vice president, and Larry Black has moved into the secretary position.

On Friday morning, a large crowd attended the Plains

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Cotton Growers annual meeting. Several speakers were featured, including David Wasserman, House editor for The Cook Political Report, who gave the keynote address.

The 2015 Outstanding Cotton Agent Award was presented to John Villalba by PCG President Shawn Holladay.

Texas cotton farmer Jamey Duesterhaus was the first recipient of the Water Conservation and Profitability Award, sponsored by Cotton Farming and Eco-Drip.

The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Trust also held its annual meeting where the organization honored Phil Hickman’s service and leadership. Hickman served as trustee from 1998 and as president from 2008 until his death last August. Many milestones were reached during his service to the Trust and its members.

Awards Dinner Highlights During the awards dinner, Barry Street, owner of Street Gin in Kress, Texas, was named the Ginner of the Year, and former TCGA President Buzz Cooper received the Life Member Award.

Another highlight was the auction of L.P. Brown Co.’s custom tie-dyed booth curtains that had generated a lot of interest during the show. Danny Moses won with his top bid of $500. The money will go to the Phil Hickman Memorial Fellowship at Texas A&M University.

Cotton Farming magazine, co-sponsor of the TCGA Trade Show, contributed $5,315 to the TCGA/Texas Tech Scholarship Fund.

The TCGA summer meeting will be held at the Omni La Mansión del Rio, San Antonio, Texas, June 26-28. Visit www.tcga.org for more information.

COTTONFARMING.COM

Industry News Continued from page 11

she served as vice president of international trade. Gray served on The Cotton Board for 13 years and had a significant impact during that time.

“The Cotton Board relies heavily on the expertise and insight of our importer members, who represent various major U.S. brands and retailers. Since she joined The Cotton Board, Maureen has consistently been a strong voice for our importer members and has brought their knowledge and expertise to the table. Her impact on the board has been substantial.

She will be missed both personally and professionally,” says Cotton Board chairman and California cotton producer Aaron Barcellos.

Louisiana cotton producer and current Cotton Board secretary George LaCour worked alongside Gray for many years.

“I have been impressed with Maureen Gray since I met her.

Maureen’s ability to see the issues facing the cotton industry from a global perspective has been very valuable to our organization. She truly cares about our industry and works hard to help us promote the use of cotton. My only wish is that every cotton producer would get the chance to meet her. I would like to thank Maureen for all of the time she has donated to helping the U.S. cotton producer gain market share,” he says.

Texas Farmer First to Plant New Technology The first commercially available cottonseed with the Enlist cotton trait was recently planted near Danevang, Texas, in the upper Gulf Coast. Dean Hansen of El Campo was the first producer in North America to plant PhytoGen brand PHY 490 W3FE. “I’m excited to be on the forefront of a new weed control system that will offer us an effective, alternative control of resistant weeds — in a variety that delivers the early season vigor, quality and yield that I’ve come to expect from PhytoGen,” Hansen says.

In PhytoGen cottonseed, the Enlist trait builds upon the Roundup Ready Flex system and provides tolerance to Enlist Duo herbicide, a proprietary blend of new 2,4-D choline and glyphosate. The Enlist cotton trait also provides full tolerance to glufosinate.

Enlist Duo with Colex-D technoloTWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

gy will be the only 2,4-D-containing product labeled for in-crop use with the Enlist cotton trait. Enlist Duo is not yet registered for use on cotton.

PhytoGen brand varieties with the Enlist cotton trait also feature the WideStrike 3 Insect Protection trait.

PHY 490 W3FE provides native resistance to bacterial blight.

Hansen closely evaluates cotton varieties for yield and fiber quality to determine which to plant. “Quality counts,” he says. “You have to go with quality when [cotton] prices are lower.

It makes a lot of difference in the bottom line.”

Hansen says having a varied herbicide program during the growing season also will help him realize the full potential of his seed investment.

2016-17 Emerging Leaders Twelve U.S. cotton industry members have been chosen to participate in the National Cotton Council’s Emerging Leaders Program for 201617. Participants, by industry segment, include: Producers – Brian Adamek, El Campo, Texas; Andrew Clark, Clovis, Calif.; Scott Flowers,

Clarksdale, Miss.; Nick McMichen, Centre, Ala.; Steven Meeks, Screven, Ga.; Russ Ratcliff, St. Joseph, La.; Jerry Rovey, Buckeye, Ariz.; and Rich Vinson, Sikeston, Mo.; Ginner – Wes Morgan, New London, N.C.; Cottonseed – Jerrod Drinnon, L ubboc k , Texas ; Warehouser – Kent Ballard, Lubbock, Texas; and Marketing Cooperative – David Mullins, Rotan, Texas.

Since being initiated in 2013, the Emerging Leaders Program has been supported by a grant to The Cotton Foundation from Monsanto.

NCC Chairman Shane Stephens, a Greenwood, Miss., warehouseman, says U.S. cotton’s central organization needs leaders who are willing to embrace the responsibilities that come with working together to ensure a healthy future for the U.S. cotton industry.

“One of those duties is being able to help facilitate unity among our seven industry segments,” Stephens says. “That unity is vital, for example, in shaping sound cotton policy and then communicating that policy to Congress, government agencies, the media and others.”

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Planting Into Green Cover Crops

BY GARRET MONTGOMERY UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

W

e have conducted research in Jackson, Te n n . , o n p l a n t i n g into green cover crops, and through trial and error, have found that it can be done effectively.

Controlling and properly managing the cover crop are the most important things to consider when planting in a green cover (termination 0-7 days prior to planting). Less than complete control of your cover can cause stunting or stand loss of the cash crop.

When you are dealing with a single species cereal cover, first determine if you have the ability to roll it down, which makes it more manageable with respect to planting. However, rolling is not effective until the cover has reached dough stage. We have also found that a cereal cover crop that is just beginning to head, but

not to the dough stages (Feekes scale 10-11), a roller crimper plus glyphosate can be an effective option for termination and still allow the benefits of rolling.

In Tennessee, dough stage in cereal covers typically occurs late April to early May. At pre-dough stage cereal cover crop termination timings, a herbicide is needed when using a roller/ crimper for cover crop termination.

With a legume cover crops, we have had better success with herbicide termination.

We predominately examined cereal rye, wheat, hairy vetch and crimson clover, and results are based on studies using these covers for weed control. In general, glyphosate will control cereal covers and paraquat, 2,4-D or dicamba is more effective on the legumes. Herbicide options for

Planting into green cover crops can be a viable option for Tennessee farmers. terminating/managing a green-planted cover crop vary by crop.

Cotton is a little more sensitive to cover crop termination than soybeans.

Legume cover crops, such as hairy vetch, can be terminated at or immediately before planting. If rolling/ crimping is an option, terminating a cereal cover can also be delayed until planting. One of the best options for terminating a legume cover in cotton is Gramoxone plus Caparol and/or Cotoran right after planting. 

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2016

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Specialists Speaking Early Season Management VIRGINIA Hunter Frame By now, cotton planters should be running wide open. As cotton begins to emerge, the first management decision producers will face is whether to treat for thrips. With the ever-increasing neonicotinoid resistance in thrips being reported, it is crucial to rotate insecticide modes of action to have a sound resistance management program. Most Virginia producers apply a foliar spray of acephate near the first true leaf stage of development.

Thrips are the most important insect pest in cotton for Virginia producers and can delay crop maturity if not managed in a timely fashion. Any delay in maturity for Virginia cotton will be detrimental to lint yield in the shorter growing season of the upper southeast coastal plain. However, producers are encouraged to actively scout fields to determine the level of thrips pressure and whether a foliar application is needed.

While scouting for thrips, producers should also be scouting for weed populations for the first post-emergence herbicide application.

Target weeds when they are small and actively growing to maximize control. Let’s hope that Mother Nature provides optimum weather for planting and cotton emergence. Although the economic outlook isn’t as great as we would like, I still believe 2016 could be a good year to grow cotton. whframe@vt.edu

NORTH CAROLINA Keith Edmisten Most of us like to keep things simple, and planting cotton is no different. Many farmers like to select a seeding rate and go with it throughout the planting season. There is often a reluctance to change seeding rates during the season due to the cost of seed and possibly the convenience and comfort of using one seeding rate that has generally worked well in the past. Using one seeding rate would work well if we had consistent weather through the planting season, but unfortunately that almost never happens.

Growers should realize that all seed and planting conditions are not equal. Using cool germination figures and planting conditions to adjust seeding rates can result in fewer replanting situations. Consider increasing planting rates when conditions are marginal. If growers know the cool germination for each seed lot, they can also avoid using lower cool germ seed lots in borderline situations. Producers with the planting capacity to plant their crop within a short period of time may be able to avoid planting in marginal conditions. The willingness and ability to change planting rates is more important to the grower who needs three weeks to plant a crop than a grower who can plant a crop in 1 1/2 weeks. keith_edmisten@ncsu.edu

FLORIDA David Wright It has been a tough winter for farmers to figure out what to plant as prices for most commodities are low.

It’s been especially difficult in the Southeast where cotton and peanut are the predominate crops. Many farmers have looked for rallies to lock in a price that could be profitable with high yields, but that has not occurred. The bright spot is that there are several new cotton varieties that have produced high yields under stressed conditions. This is the reason for a slight increase in cotton acreage.

Rotations have gotten out of sync in the last couple of years, and farmers need to have cotton or corn in the rotation to prevent reduced

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2016

yields of peanut in the future. Much of the planting will be in midto late April through May, depending on soil conditions and rainfall.

However, cotton is often planted before peanut if conditions are right.

Farmers seem to adapt during good times and bad, and we are seeing how creative they are with management during these times of low commodity prices. wright@ufl.edu

MISSISSIPPI Darrin Dodds Weather conditions this spring are shaping up to be very similar to those we have seen over the past three years. As of mid-April, many growers are still waiting to plant/re-plant corn and start planting soybeans. During the past three growing seasons, little to no cotton has been planted in April, and in some cases planting has extended into June due to challenging weather. Generally speaking, the prime planting window in Mississippi ranges from mid- to late April through May 15. Keep in mind that in 2014, a large portion of our crop was planted after May 15, and we still managed to set a new state yield record.

Everyone understands the importance of weed control, particularly control of Palmer amaranth. It was announced over the past few months that four counties in Mississippi (Bolivar, Coahoma, Sunflower and Tunica) are home to PPO-resistant Palmer amaranth.

PPO-inhibiting herbicides are commonly used for weed control in soybeans and include products such as fomesafen (active ingredient in Reflex, Dawn, etc. and a component of Prefix, Warrant Ultra, etc.) and lactofen (Cobra, etc.). Fomesafen products are commonly used pre-plant in cotton for residual pigweed control.

Be on the lookout for shortened residual activity from these products and be prepared to take necessary steps to control pigweed if you are in or near one of the previously mentioned Mississippi counties. darrind@ext.msstate.edu

TENNESSEE Tyson Raper With a little luck, cotton planting will be in full swing the first week of May. Let’s hope that a portion of your acres will have emerged and quickly be approaching the development of the first true leaf. The period between planting and first square is arguably the most important time in the season. As detailed in “The First 40 Days: The Most Critical Period in Cotton Production,” promoting rapid early growth by mitigating stress is absolutely critical in maximizing the efficiency of the cotton production system.

Although that publication was first published in 2007, those concepts are arguably even more important today.

A few specific items should be considered as you move into May. First, many of my colleagues have begun recommending foliar sprays for thrips before the second true leaf stage if emergence/development of the first true leaves is slow or delayed. This has become extremely important due to a general slip observed in many of the insecticide seed treatments. Furthermore, the spread of PPO-resistant Palmer amaranth in our area means we need to lap the middles as fast as possible to minimize the amount of solar radiation available for emerging weeds. Additionally, make sure you are overlapping residuals to prevent emergence.

It also is important to provide the developing plant with adequate fertility early, although nutrient uptake during this period is relatively low. Subsequently, many Extension Services recommend splitting COTTONFARMING.COM

nitrogen applications to reduce the potential for loss and increase the efficiency of the system. Finally, irrigation is rarely required presquare and does not typically result in a yield increase. Mitigating stress by following these guidelines will result in a strong start and put you on the path toward a successful season. traper@utk.edu

MISSOURI Mike Milam In Missouri, our optimum planting date is May 5-15 based on a date of planting study. However, in some years, late planting is successful due to the elimination of the boll weevil as a key pest. It is now possible to harvest the top crop, which was impossible prior to 2001. Last year, a large portion of our crop was planted much later than optimum (late May and early June).

With the weather conditions that we faced, it was not detrimental to plant so late. In fact, the 1,111 pounds-per-acre average was our second largest ever. I have often wondered what would have happened if most of the crop were planted earlier. I knew we had a good crop, but I didn’t know if we would have a long enough growing season to get it out of the field.

In regard to early planting, some years are more successful than others. I prefer earlier planting because of the weather conditions that we typically face. Early planting will get the crop established and possibly avoid some insect infestations later in the season. In general, there is more moisture earlier in the season and usually more rainfall to activate herbicides. The good news is that we have enough irrigation capacity to deal with the hot, dry conditions that we expect this summer. It looks like the La Niña weather phase will kick in during planting season. milammr@missouri.edu

ARKANSAS Bill Robertson

OKLAHOMA Randy Boman The spring rainy season is upon us. Although somewhat late in arriving, recent rainfall has been a blessed sight in western Oklahoma. April rainfall leading up to planting season has been fair to fantastic, depending upon one’s location in the state.

We are anticipating more new varieties with XtendFlex technology to show up in the marketplace in 2016. The industry is still awaiting approval for various formulations of dicamba with reduced volatility for use in XtendFlex cotton; therefore, in-season dicamba applications will not be allowed. A variety with the new Enlist technology from Dow AgroSciences will be available in very limited supply in 2016. We are also awaiting approval by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Enlist Duo herbicide for use in Enlist cotton. This is a premix of glyphosate and the new ultra-low volatility 2,4-D choline formulation herbicide.

As we transition into these technologies, producers will have the opportunity to investigate and familiarize themselves with the new varieties. Variety performance is critical, especially with lint prices at a low point. We also can’t afford to stumble coming out of the gate, so to speak. Don’t forget that planting under excessively cool soil conditions can lead to poor stands or stand failures if the correct conditions align. Under cool temperatures, the physiological processes involved in germination can be very slow, which can result in slow growth and perhaps increased susceptibility to thrips and various pathogens.

Let’s hope 2016 will be a banner year for farmers. With a run of several tough years behind us, the industry deserves a good one. randy.boman@okstate.edu

PHOTOS BY GAYLON MORGAN

Establishing a healthy stand of cotton is the first step toward a successful season. Cotton does not tolerate difficulties encountered during its first weeks of growth very well. Variety selection and seed quality have a lasting effect on the crop’s early season vigor and on overall plant health, which is critical in establishing high yield potentials.

When pushing the limits on earlier-than-advised planting, replanting is sometimes necessary. Since the optimum soil temperature for cotton germination is near 85 degrees Fahrenheit, it is understandable that soil temperatures less than 60 degrees F can lead to failure. Cold weather slows cotton growth, increasing its vulnerability to fungal pathogens, which grow well at 65 degrees F. When planting into cold

soils, it is imperative to use the highest quality seed. As seed size decreases, seed quality becomes more critical when planting in marginal conditions.

When determining if replanting is necessary, many factors should be considered. First, it is important to evaluate the current stand of plants that will survive. This may not be evident for a few days after a storm if evaluating hail damage. Nonetheless, it is crucial to evaluate the population, uniformity and health of the existing stand.

Establishing the occurrence of skips greater than 3 feet in length, especially when this occurs simultaneously in adjacent rows, is critical.

The calendar date is also important. A thin stand is much more acceptable near the end of the planting window. The ability of cotton to adapt and maintain yield potential at lower plant populations is often underestimated. If the decision to replant is difficult, then there are probably enough plants to keep the stand. brobertson@uaex.edu

T TWITTER WITTER:: @C @COTTON OTTONF FARMING ARMING

COTTON COTTON FARMING FARMING MAY MAY 2016 2016

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Specialists Speaking LOUISIANA Dan Fromme Cotton acres at the current time are expected to increase by 25 to 30 percent from last year in Louisiana.

As we proceed into planting, cotton farmers have experienced abundant rainfall and wet soil conditions during the months of March and April. As of April 12, approximately 1,500-2,000 acres have been planted.

Compared to the last three years, soil temperatures are a lot warmer going into planting.

Once planting is completed and cotton seedlings have emerged from the ground, producers will want to concentrate on managing the cotton plant from the first- through fifth-leaf stage. Reaching the fifth true leaf stage as quickly as possible and unscathed from thrips is important in producing good cotton yields at the end of the season.

Seed treatments for controlling early season insect pests through the fifth true leaf stage play a viable part in getting off to a fast start.

Depending on environmental conditions, seed treatments may last anywhere from 14-22 days. Oftentimes under cool spring conditions, reaching the fifth true leaf stage is delayed and seed treatments no longer offer protection. Under these conditions, foliar sprays are needed even though a seed treatment was used at planting. However, make sure economic thresholds are exceeded before applying a foliar application for thrips control. Avoid automatic or convenience applications if economic thresholds have not been reached. Such practices can create pest problems, particularly from spider mites. dfromme@ agcenter.lsu.edu

TEXAS Seth Byrd With favorable weather in the forecast for much of April, there will likely be some cotton seed in the ground by the time this issue reaches you. Of course, a few more rain events will help optimize planting conditions and early season growth. We typically observe seeding rates from 20,000 – 30,000 on dryland fields and 40,000 – 50,000-plus in irrigated situations. However, there will likely be some reductions in seeding rates with the state of the market and high input costs. Information on calculating seed costs, final planting dates for insurance purposes, and optimal soil temperatures for cotton planting is available at cotton.tamu.edu.

Closely monitoring early season growth, particularly up to the 5-leaf stage is recommended to ensure that we get off to a good start.

Scouting for early season pests, such as thrips, is key to making decisions regarding insecticide applications so that the plant can reach a less sensitive growth stage as quickly as possible. It has also been shown that the negative impact of thrips can be magnified if herbicide injury or other stresses that result in slow growth are also present. This is particularly important if cool conditions are present, which will further delay growth. seth.byrd@ag.tamu.edu

TEXAS Gaylon Morgan The cotton crop in the Rio Grande Valley is off to a positive start this season, with cotton acres approximately doubling the 2015 acres by about 60,000.

Earlier planted cotton in the Coastal Bend had to be replanted due to a heavy March rainfall event, but the majority of the cotton that was planted in late March is looking good. Cotton in the Upper Gulf Coast was planted slightly behind normal, but stands generally look favorable, and no widespread replanting is expected. The Southern Blacklands planted most of its crop by the second week of April, and nice stands are expected.

Throughout cotton production regions in South and East Texas, the soil moisture situation is satisfactory, but good soil moisture brings

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COTTON FARMING MAY 2016

plenty of weed pressure. Although the economics of growing cotton are not great, we will have to be diligent to stay ahead of the weeds throughout the season and follow label requirements during the process. In the Northern Rolling Plains, much of the fall and winter precipitation was missed, and the area is categorized as abnormally dry.

The Southern Rolling Plains has decent soil moisture with depth, but will need some additional planting moisture. The Rolling Plains will begin planting in early to mid-May. Applying pre-plant burndown herbicides to start the year weed-free is a critical step in managing the glyphosate-resistant pigweeds that have progressed across the region for the past couple of years. gmorgan@tamu.edu

NEW MEXICO John Idowu Cotton season has started in New Mexico. Many farmers have already planted, and the weather is warming up quickly. The major interesting thing is the improved irrigation water situation in Dona Ana County, which is the second largest cotton-producing county in New Mexico.

Irrigation water allotment could be up to 18 inches per irrigable acre this season. This has not happened in a long time.

For example, the allotment in 2013 was 3.5 acre-inches, in 2014 it was 6 acre-inches and in 2015 it was 11 acre-inches. Although 18 acre-inches is still far from 36 acre-inches, which is the target of the irrigation district, it will still significantly reduce the water pumping cost for cotton farmers. Right now, we have not seen any early season problems in cotton fields and are hoping for a good cotton season. jidowu@ad.nmsu.edu

ARIZONA Randy Norton Nearly all the cotton is in across the deserts of Arizona with the exception of some late-planted cotton and the cotton planted following small grains. It appears that cotton acreage across Arizona will be up significantly from 2015.

Cotton in the southwestern region of the state is nearing first bloom and the remainder of the state is nearing first square. Decisions regarding irrigation timing become critical at this point as proper soil/crop moisture management reduces crop stress. Research has indicated that stress resulting from delayed irrigations, particularly early in the season, will cause the abortion of fruiting forms, resulting in decreased yield potential and increased potential for excessive vegetative growth.

Maintaining proper crop water status can be done by scheduling irrigations according to crop water use and water-holding capacity of the soil. Each week, cotton advisories are developed for every region of the state that contain crop water use for each day of the previous week for four representative planting dates. This information can be used in a “checkbook” approach to irrigation scheduling. For example, in the first week of July, a cotton crop planted on April 1 will utilize approximately 2.4 inches of water (data from advisory). This is 0.34 inches per day. Let’s say that the crop is planted on a loam soil that holds approximately 2.5 inches of plant available water (PAW) per foot of soil. If the effective rooting depth is 3 feet, that soil will hold 7.5 inches of PAW. The general rule of thumb is to irrigate when 50 percent of the PAW has been utilized or approximately 3.75 inches. At a water use rate of 0.34 inches per day, we would have an irrigation interval of approximately 11 days.

This technique is effective for scheduling irrigations, but it is critical to know the water-holding capacity of your soil and the crop water use for the time of year and planting date of the crop. Crop water-use data along with additional information on this and other topics can be found online at cals.arizona.edu/crops. rnorton@cals.arizona.edu COTTONFARMING.COM

COTTON

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Do You Have A Plan?

plate 3/7/14 3:26 PM Page 1

Someone once said that failure to plan is planning to fail. I’m not sure who said it, but it’s one of those things that can really ring true sometimes. In these columns, my colleagues and I often talk about safety or environmental regulations, and sometimes labor law. This month, let’s talk about planning.

It can be a bit slow around the gin at this time of the year, particularly in years where we’ve had a relatively short crop and are moving into what looks like a shorter one.

Ginners may be reluctant to spend money on big projects, so they fix what is broken and maybe slap on some paint to go another year.

However, this is the perfect time to get all those plans and programs together that we’ve been nagging you about.

It’s also a good time to think about planning for the unexpected. We’re pretty good at telling you how to handle the expected stuff, but you need to think about the unexpected situations that can pop up.

One Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule that gets overlooked a lot is the Emergency Action Plan.

We don’t often think about it because I can’t remember the

last time it was cited, but everyone should have one. OK. End of article, right? Not quite. This isn’t just about an evacuation EAP, per se. For example, do you have a plan if you have a really bad accident? Do you have a plan to handle media if your module truck hits a school bus? Do you have a plan for succession if key management passes away? These are just some of the things you can start considering at this time of year.

Let’s talk a little bit about one that catches up with us in the South more than it does gins in the West. I am referring to severe weather. I guess I think about this a bit more than many other people because I’m a National Weather Service spotter. Before dangerous weather

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actually hits, ask yourself these questions. Do you have a plan for severe weather? Do you have a weather radio?

Where’s the safest place to go? Do you and your employees know the safest place to go? These are just a few considerations that should be addressed when developing a severe weather plan.

Another important item is your succession plan. Think about it. What would you do if your key management or ownership passed away? Do you have a way to get to his or her accounts? What about passwords to important software or websites that you use? We need to plan for these kinds of things.

As an example, Mom and Dad had a safe deposit box at the bank. Mom set it up years ago but never put Dad on the signature card. Their wills were in that bank box. It took weeks for the bank to let my dad into the box to retrieve Mom’s will so the estate could go to probate. She wasn’t trying to keep Dad out of the box, she just never planned for the one who had access to the box to be the one that passed away first. It’s time to anticipate the unexpected.

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Cotton Ginners Marketplace

1 – 1997 model Ginning/Lint Cleaning Line, consisting of a 96” wide Model 700TM Feeder, 170-Saw ImperialTM III Gin, Super-Jet® Lint Cleaner, and Model 108 Lint Cleaner 2 – Lummus Model 66 Lint Cleaners with Condensers 1 – Belt-Wide 75-HP Flooded-Suction Hydraulic Booster Pumping Unit 1 – Lubbock Electric Hydraulic Pumping Unit for Gin Dor-Les® or E.E. Dor-Les® Press (single reservoir with multiple motor/pump groups) 1 – Lummus Bale Handling System for up-packing press 1 – Lot, miscellaneous Burner and Moisture Unit components (contact us for details)

1 - Complete 2/141 Gin Plant consisting of: Unloading System with 15” diameter single-lane Powered Telescope, Rock Trap with Trash Vacuum, 72” Unloading Separator/Feed Control with Vacuum Wheel and Flight-Saver, and No. 50 Unloading Fan; First-Stage Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Horn 3-Saw Stick Machine (with double 96” x 24” Vacuum Wheels), Second-Stage Drying/Precleaning System with Continental 3 MBTU Burner and No. 40 Push Fan, 54” Tower Dryer, 96” Continental Inclined Cleaner with Vacuum Wheel over 96” Continental 2-Saw Stick Machine; Distribution/Overflow System with Continental 2-Stand Conveyor Distributor and 72” Automatic Overflow Hopper with Breaker Cylinder; Feeding/Ginning System with two (2) Continental 141-Saw Gins (converted) and 96” Comet Supreme Feeders; Lint Cleaning System with four (4) 66” wide Continental 16-D Lint Cleaners (two tandem arrangements); Condensing/Pressing System with 50” Moss Battery Condenser, 20” x 54” Continental Bespress, and Bale Handling System with Bale Push Cart (manual) and Bagger (powered); five (5) Smith 35/40 Centrifugal Fans (only one season of operation)

* - does not include any Steel Supports or Platforms

®

Physical Address: 225 Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 929 • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 Toll Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com

© Copyright 2016 Lummus Corporation

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You and your staff also should have media training. That camera can be intimidating. If you have a major accident at the gin or away from the gin, reporters (bloggers and traditional journalists) are increasingly on the scene rapidly. Do you have a plan to handle it? Is there one point-person to speak to the media? Has that person had training on what not to say? Does everyone else there know who that person is and how to handle a pushy reporter? It would be a good idea to plan for this type of situation.

Very soon, we will get busy with meetings and ginning and will forget about setting up these plans. We won’t have time even if we’re reminded.

I strongly encourage you to take time now before the next meeting and ginning seasons begin and make plans that will cover all types of emergencies that can happen when you least expect it.

MODULE FEEDERS

CHANNEL SAWS

COTTON GIN BRUSHES

BATS & BRUSHES

VERTICAL COMBO DRYER

ROUND MODULE MACHINERY

Dusty Findley of the Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association contributed this article. Contact him at 706-344-1212 or dusty@southern-southeastern.org.

Cotton’s Calendar 2016 June 7-9: Cotton Incorporated Meeting, Dallas, Texas.

July 31-Aug. 3: Southern Southeastern Board Meeting, Amelia Island, Fla. Aug. 2-4: Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Meeting, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Aug. 17: PCCA Board Meeting and Delegate Body Meeting, Lubbock, Texas.

Aug. 24-26: NCC Board Meeting, Memphis, Tenn.

Sept. 21: Staplcotn Annual Meeting, Greenwood, Miss.

RAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY 1333 E. 44th. ST. Lubbock, TX 79404 806-745-5552 Fax: 806-745-5582 rammfgco@rammfg.net www.rammfg.net

2017

Cotton Ginners Marketplace

Jan. 4-6: Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Dallas, Texas.

Jan. 18-21: Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting, Charlotte, N.C. Feb. 10-12: NCC Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas.

Feb. 28-March 1: Cotton Board Meeting.

April 6-7: Texas Cotton Ginners Association Trade Show, Lubbock, Texas.

June 6-8: Cotton Incorporated Meeting.

Aug. 8-10: Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Joint Meeting.

Aug. 23-25: NCC Board Meeting, Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tenn.

Dec. 5-7: Cotton Board/Cotton Incorporated Joint Meeting.

2018 Jan. 3-5: Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, Texas.

Feb. 9-11: NCC Annual Meeting, Ft. Worth, Texas.

April 5-6: Texas Cotton Ginners Association Trade Show, Lubbock, Texas.

Aug. 20-22: NCC Mid-Year Board Meeting, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.

TWITTER: @COTTONFARMING

COTTON FARMING MAY 2016

21

My Turn

Oh, Brother!

O

n e o f m y f i r s t farm changed all that during a scuffle. Tom started m e m o r i e s w a s catching me in size when he turned 10. It was a the arrival of my rainy day while Daddy was piddling on something b r o t h e r, To m , in the shop. Our idle minds led to an argument, and in the summer of 1968. I the altercation ensued. Years of losing had built up was not quite 2 years old, in Tom, and he would not be denied a victory that but somehow it sticks with day. I made up my mind quickly that I would much me. Growing up in Belzoni, rather have him as my friend than my foe. That day Miss., provided a great envi- was a turning point for sure!

I remember teaching him to drive Daddy’s pickronment and many opport u n i t i e s t o c r e a t e s u c h up later that year – an old Ford with a column memories, as the town at shift. Wet days would become opportunities to shoot Hugh that time was to me much our .22-caliber rifle to check our accuracy on tin Beckham like Mayberry was to Opie cans from various distances. Working in the same Taylor. I could walk from one field would spark many spontaneous moments to end to the other, ride my bike most anywhere, and try to make each other laugh. The competition to my parents never worried if we got home late. A out-funny the other may have created a couple of phone call to a friend’s mama would suffice to easily class clowns that future teachers at Pillow Academy would come to dread. I remember the first year locate us if we needed a reminder. we used Basagran, and To m a n d I p l a y e d together with other “I wouldn’t trade our time on watched this chemical kill our cockleburs but neighbors our age. We the farm for anything.” not our soybeans. I marwere always on the veled at that concept and same Little League baseball team, and in the same Boy Scout troop years will admit that it piqued my interest in agribusilater. When I was 11, we moved to nearby Green- ness. I could not imagine then the possibilities that wood – a bigger town and an opportunity to make would come to agriculture over the next decade.

Neither of us came back to the farm; I went into new friends at a new school. But the absolute best memories of growing up with my brother were made agribusiness and Tom to the banking industry. Our on our family farm, which was between Belzoni and father continued farming until his untimely death in 1999. By then, Tom and I were entrenched in our Greenwood near the small hamlet of Swiftown.

From the sixth grade on, the last exam in May careers and family lives, he in North Carolina and I marked the first day on the farm. This would last in north Mississippi. We still have one tract of land until two-a-day football practices started in August. that we own together. Being 12 hours apart makes We spent about 90 days each year on the farm, only it difficult to see one another’s family, so we usually interrupted by baseball or a week at our Boy Scout plan visits around Mississippi State football games.

However, owning a farm together makes it neccamp – Camp Tallaha. Farm labor would come and go, but for the most part, the personnel consisted of essary to communicate many times each year with Tom, my Daddy and myself. The lessons were too contracts, bills, taxes, etc. Ironically, the one thing many to count, from “riding the planter” to even- that keeps us in touch the most today is the very tually driving tractors, working on equipment, and place that made the best memories we had growdoing all things related to raising mostly soybeans. ing up together. I wouldn’t trade our time on the Meanwhile, we developed a strong work ethic and farm for anything. If you have the same opportulearned the importance of teamwork. These valu- nity with your kids today, cherish them. The time will go by fast, but the memories will last forever. able lessons have helped in every step of my life.

Most all brothers will have an occasional dis– Hugh Beckham, DuPont Pioneer area manager, agreement, and we had our share. The advantage of Nesbit, Miss. being the oldest brother is the gift of time and size, hugh.beckham@pioneer.com and for many years I ruled the roost. One day on the

Cotton Farming’s back page is devoted to telling unusual “farm tales” or timely stories from across the Cotton Belt. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve got an interesting story to tell, send a short summary to csmith@onegrower.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

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